Recent developments show value of peace
A child scurries to his mother whining, “Someone stole my cookie!” The mother wisely responds, “Just use your words, and talk it out.”
It’s funny how some things you learn when you’re young reappear as valuable lessons someone of any age can learn from. In recent weeks, it seems like world leaders are taking a moment to reminisce on the wise words their mothers once whispered to them.
President Barack Obama has taken a stance different from past leaders’ by deciding not to rush into a conflict too complicated to understand and considering all options before declaring war with yet another country.
Peaceful negotiations are spreading faster than the Arab Spring this month, a hopeful glimpse into a world where guns are replaced by positive innovations.
Deciding to attack a country in the midst of civil war, especially one with a web of alliances complex enough to spur a World War I-esque domino effect, is not a problem with a clean, simple solution.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has transformed overnight from foreign policy nightmare to chief international mediator by proposing a compromise for the U.S. to suspend military intervention in Syria. In return, Syria will surrender all its chemical weapons to be destroyed by the U.S. and Russia.
Following suit, North Korea and South Korea have recently reopened Kaesong Park, a factory near the border where their citizens work together to increase economic production for both countries — an aspiration to ease conflict.
Tension between the U.S. and North Korea are also gradually diminishing, as NBA star Dennis Rodman recently returned to North Korea and met with Kim Jong Un to train its basketball team for the Olympics.
Newly elected Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has changed the tone for U.S.-Iran relations by saying Iran would “never seek weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons.” Rouhani wishes to banish the taboo of peaceful relations between the countries. In return, Iran seeks to dismiss the harsh sanctions imposed on its economic growth to agree on a compromise for both countries.
Witnessing the U.S. and Russia come to a deal after their detailed history of competition, war and spying may have inspired players in the century-old Palestinian-Israeli conflict to take a break and talk a few things out as well.
Secretary of State John Kerry has facilitated a path to end the three-year stalemate between Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel and President Mahmoud Abbas of Palestine. Negotiators from both sides are to meet in the U.S. to work out how the talks will occur and to establish borders of each country, refugees and, above all, the division of Jerusalem.
In Belfast, Northern Ireland, Protestants and Catholics have lived with a deep division of interests over flags, parades and other religious issues, causing members of these communities to build a wall of peace that spans more than three miles and stands up to 50 feet tall. U.S. diplomat Richard Haass has started a series of peace talks to begin to settle tensions there, hopefully to bring it down like the Berlin wall.
By voicing their concerns, leaders across the globe have demonstrated that peaceful negations result in better economic and political relations, protection of citizens and military lives and a positive message for people of any age, race or culture to see that violence is not an effective solution.